Woodworking-machine.



PATBNTBD OCT. 17 1905.

W. S. MELLEN. WOODWORKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION PILED SEPT. 29. 1904,

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b i W Amy No. 801,889. PATENTEDO0T.17,1905.

W.S.MELLEN.

WOODWORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

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No. 801,889. PATENTED' 001:. 17, 1905.

W. s. MELLEN.

WOODWORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1904.-

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No. 801,889. BATENTBD 00 17, 1905.

W. S. MELLBN.

WOODWORKING MACHINE.

APPLIDATXON FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

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110.801 889. PATEN I I W. SI MBLLEN' TED 001' 17,1905

WOODWORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

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UNITED strAri s PATENT orrion.

WILLIAM S. MELLEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY BOARDMAN AND ONE-HALF TO MOUND CITY PAINT & COLOR COMPANY, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WOODWORKlNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed September 29, 1904- Serial No. 226,436.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MELLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Woodworking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for forming a new fabric, the subject of an application for patent filed of even date herewith for the product, and also relates to machines for carrying out the process of manufacturing said product, said process having been made the subject of a separate application for patent also filed of even date herewith.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3.is an end View of the formerdrum. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through same on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a separable segment of the shell of said former-drum. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the means for holding. said segment in the position shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the frames carry ing the compression-rollers. Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the same, showing the means of holding the compressionrollers. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the same, and Fig. 11 is a detached detail to show the location and arrangement of the feed-roll. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 2, showing the veneer in the process of manipulation.

The frame of the machine consists of suitable standards 1, longitudinal beams 2, and

transverse beams. (Not shown.) Tliestandards 1 support a table or horizontal frame 3. An endless belt or carrier 4 travels over this table 3 around the former-drum 5 and the idler 6. The latter rotates'on the shaft 7,

turning in bearings 8 in standards 9, located.

on opposite sides of the table or frame 3 and projecting thereabove.

The former-drum 5 is keyed, as indicated at 10, Fig. 3, to the shaft 11. One end of 5 the shaft 11 is inserted inthe pivoted bearing 12, and the other is held in a suitable opening through the box 13 at the top of the support 14, which is pivoted at 15 to the main frame Fig. I

of the machine or to one of the rear stand ards 1 thereof. In order that support 14 may normally be retained in such position as to hold the shaft 11 as indicated in Fig. 1, a groove is formed in the surface of the box 13, and a latch 16, pivoted at 17, is provided to fit into said groove, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l, and thus hold said sup port 14 vertical. When the latch 16 is raised out of the groove and the support 14 swung outwardly, so that the shaft 11 is free from the box 13, the shaft 11, with the formerdrum 5 carried thereby, will swing slightly on the pivot 18 of the bearing 12. This may be desirable for convenience in removing a cylinder formed on the. former-drum 5, as hereinafter described.

Practically surrounding the former-drum 5, at each end thereof, is a pair of frames, the left-hand forward one of which is numbered 19 and the right-hand forward one 20. The left-hand rearone is numbered 21 and the right-hand rear one 22. These frames hold a plurality of compression rollers 23. The frames carrying said compression-rollers 23 are arranged with relation to the formerdrum 5 so that pressure can be exerted thereby upon the material forming on the formerdrum and also so that when it is desired to remove said material from the former-drum after it has been given the shape of a cylinder or other article said compression-rollers 23 may be removed from their position of encircling the former-drum 5 and pressing the material thereon. To this end said frames are'arranged as follows: The frames 19 and 20 have attached to them brackets 24, which are also connected to the arms'25, pivoted at 26 to the main frame of the machine and at 27 to the links 28, which in turn are pivoted at 29 to the eccentric arm 30. The eccentric arm 30 is fixedly attached to the shaft 31, which has rigidly attached thereto the cams 32. The cams 32 normally support blocks 33, sliding in guides 34 through apertures therein, said blocks 33 having projections 35 thereon encircled each by a helical spring 36,which' encircles a projection 37, depending from the bearings 38 for the shaft 39 of thefeed and compression roll 40. The brackets 24 are attached in a somewhat adjustable manner to the frames 19 and 20, said brackets being slotted at 41 and 42 to receive bolts 43, protruding therethrough from the frames 19 and 20, the bolts being of course secured by nuts. The arms of the brackets 24 are again slotted at 44 and 45 to receive bolts 46, which in a similar manner unite the brackets 24 to the arms 25. Thus it will be perceived that provision is made for a suitable amount of adj ustment of the frames 19 and 20 to suit varying circumstances or change in the machine.

The frames 21 and 22 are connected to the vertical arms 47 by the brackets 48, which are adjustably connected to said arms 47 and also with the frames 21 and 22 by, respectively,

the bolts 49 and slots 50 and the bolts 51 and slots 52.

The compressionrollers 23 are fastened in the frames 19, 20, 21, and 22 in a manner so that they will apply spring-pressure to the material between the former-drum 5 and themselves. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the frame 20 is exhibited with a plurality of slots 53, in each of which is located a spring 54, which presses the upper wall 55 of said slot, and its lower portion presses the block 56, adapted to slide vertically in said slot 53. The block 56 has at its forward end a plate 57, which projects high enough above the block 56 to aid in retaining the spring 54 in the slot 53, and also is provided with shoulders 58, which overlap and are adapted to catch upon the flanges 59 to prevent the block 56 from dropping out of the slot 53. A pointed screwbolt 60 passes through the block 56, and upon the point thereof which enters the end of the compression-roller 23 the latter is pivoted, while the degree of insertion of the point 61 into the roller 23 can be adjusted by means of the bolt-head or thumb-nut 62.

The former-drum 5 is composed of two segmental parts, each comprising approximately half of a hollow cylinder, the shape of the ends of said halves 63 and 64 being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. In order to complete the circumference of the formerdrum 5 to make it a complete cylinder, a piece like a T-iron 65 is inserted between them, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and there held in place from falling outwardly by the pivoted buttons 66. The former-drum 5 is made collapsible in order to allow the removal of the cylinder or other article formed thereon, and when it is desired to collapse said former-drum the T-iron 65 is manually pushed out of place, as shown in Fig. 3, allowing same to drop down within the hollow interior of the sections 63 and 64. The former-drum 5 is kept in shape by the disks 67, 68, and 69, through which openings are cut for the passage of the shaft 11. Openings 71 are likewise cut through the same for the passage of the shaft 72. The shaft 72 has a crank-handle 73, by which it is operated. The shaft 72 is located eccentrically with. reference to the disks 67, 68, and 69 and actuates the half-sections 63 and 64 to move on the hinges composed of the straps 74, pivoted by the bolts 75 to the disks 67 and 69, said bolts entering through enlarged openings 76 in the exterior end plates 77 to bring said half-sections 63 and 64 to gether at the top after the T-iron 65 has been slid out of engagement with the buttons 66, so that it drops down into the interior of the former-drum 5. The T-iron 65 slides longitudinally through openings in the disks 67 and 69 and has in its web at one end the bevel 78 and at the other the beveled notch 79. By means of this bevel and beveled notch the T- iron 65 is so lowered that a break occurs in the periphery of the former-drum 5, whereupon said drum can be collapsed by bringing the two sections 63 and 64 together at the top, as hereinbefore described, and later when said sections have been restored to their spacedapart position the T-iron can be restored to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6 by merely sliding it manually from the end to the inclination of said beveled portion, which will restore it to constitute part of the periphery of the former-drum. It will be observed that the web of the T-iron 65 projects beyond the disks 67 and 69.

The compression-rollers 23 divide into two groups swinging in opposite directions with the frames 19 and 20 on the one hand and the frames 21 and 22 on the other. In order that these two groups of compression-rollers 23 may be held firmly together and exert suitable pressure upon the former-drum 5 to the material surrounding same when the machine is in use, a pair of hooks 80 extend. from the shaft 81, to which they are rigidly attached, over beyond the division between the two groups of compression-rollers 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to take hold of the transverse bar 82, which connects the frames 19 and 20. Similar transverse bars 83 connect the frames 19 and 20 and 21 and 22 at various points of their semicircumference, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The hooks 80 can be made to grasp the bar 82 by manual adjustment; but the frames 19 and 20 and the compression-rollers carried by them can be drawn into much closer contact with the former-d rum by means of said hooks when the lever 84 is depressed. Taking hold of the lever-handle 85, downward pressure is applied thereto, and by means of the connecting-rod 86 having the spring-link 87 with the bellcrank 88 the hooks 80 are pulled toward the right in Fig. 1, so as to bring the compression-rollers 23 of frames 19 and 20 inclose contact with the formerdrum 5. At the same time and by the same power applied to the lever 84 and by virtue of the power communicated by the bell-crank 88 to the upright arms 47, pivoted at 90 to the main frame of the machine, said arms 47 are moved to the left in Fig. 1, thereby forcing the compression-rollers 23 of frames 21 and 22 into equally tight contact with the formerdrum 5 and insuring equal pressure by means of the compression-rollers at all points of the former-drum. Whatever take-up there be by virtue of drawing the hooks 80 tighter, as just described, or in the relative adjustment of the opposite set of compression-rollers is held after the application of power, as just mentioned, by the dog 91 and ratchet 92.

Means for operating the machine to feed and compress the material consists of the le ver-arm 93, which is attached to the shaft 11 in any suitable manner, whereby a rigid but removable connection is made with said shaftas, for instance, by forming a boss 94 on the shaft 11, with a square hole therein for the reception of a square shoulder 95 on the end of the lever-arm 93. A spring-pressed trigger 96 may be drawn out of engagement with the ratchet 97 by means of the pivoted hand-grasp 98..

The operation of the machine is as follows: Pieces of quasi-veneer like those described in my applications for patents filed simultaneously herewith and mentioned above, having their connecting edges chamfered, as therein described, and connected with adhesives, are laid in suitable order upon the lower half of the belt 4 up to a point adjacent to the feed and compression roll 40. The parts being in the position indicated in Fig. 1that is to say, with the former-drum 5 in the shape of a complete cylinder, the compression-rollers 23, carried With the frames 19 and 20 and 21 and 22, being held tightly in contact with said former-drum by virtue of the pressure applied by the lever 84 and ready to yield to the passage of the material between said formerdrum and said compression-rollers by reason of their adjustability through the springs 54, and the feed and compression roll 40 being strongly spring-pressed by the springs 36, so as to hold the belt 4 closely in contact with the formerdrum, and likewise said veneer- 1 like material as it feeds between the formerdrum and said feed-rolldownward pressure is applied to the lever-arm 93, whereby the shaft 11 is caused to rotate, and thereby the former-drum 5. As the belt 4 is held closely in contact with the former-drum not only by the compression-rollers 23, but also by the feed-roll 40, the rotation of the former-drum 5 causes the belt to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, carrying with it the material placed thereon, as hereinabove described. The passage of this material between the feed-roll and the former-drum applies very strong pressure thereto, so as firmly to unite the chamfered joints thereof and to squeeze out all air therein and surplus adhesive material; but the pressure continues when the pieced material winds around the former-drum, between it and the belt and under the pressure of the compression-rollers 23, until, for instance, a complete cylinder is formed. This operation can then be continued as long as material is fed into the former the same time that they are compacted, and

thus insuring their permanency and durability and the general solidity of the material. Moreover, adhesives may be applied to the material as soon as the second lamination begins to wind, so that each successive lamination will adhere to its predecessor. When as many laminations have been formed asare desired, the supply of material may be stopped or it may be cut off, and the completed cylinder or other article may be Withdrawn from the former-drum 5. It will be understood that while I have illustrated the former as merely cylindrical and as producing a cylindrical product, yet the shape of the former can be varied at pleasure in order to form a variety of objects. As the product formed, as just described, is in close contact with the former-drum 5, it is necessary next to collapse the former-drum by sliding the T-iron 65 on the bevels 78 and 79, so that it drops out of the periphery of the former-drum, whereupon by means of the crank-handle 73 the half-sections 63 and 64 of the formerdrum are brought together, turning on the hinges 74, which so reduces the diameter, or rather the circumference, of the former-drum as to take it out of contact with the inside of the cylindrical product formed thereon. The latch 16 is lifted and the support 14 swung out of the way. The lever-arm 93 is also removed from the shaft 11. The hooks 80 are detached from the cross-bar 82 and swung backwardly out of the way. This allows the frames 19 and 20 to swing forward and the frames 21 and 22 backward, removing the pressure of the compression-rollers 23 from the belt 4, and the cylindrical product can then be slid off the former-drum 5, as the forward movement of the frames 19 and 20 has at the same time that it relieved pressure on the .belt 4 by means of the arm 25, link 28, eccentric arm 30, cam 32, and connected parts allowed the feed-roll 40 to dropout of contact with the belt, and this has removed its pressure from the cylindrical product.

AlthoughI have hereinabove described the rotation of the former-drum 5 as affected by hand-power applied by means of the lever 93 to the shaft 11, yet it is obvious that the shaft 11 could be extended farther to the left in Fig. 2, and by means of a suitable pulley and belt and means for interrupting the motion of the shaft 11 the apparatus could be made to operate by power as well as by hand. It

will also be understood that the lever 93can be arranged with relation to the shaft 11 so as either to increase or decrease the number of times said lever must be pressed downward to cause a complete rotation of the formerdrum 5.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless carrier, a former, two banks of compression-rollers surrounding same, a pair of vertical arms, a hook or books borne thereby to engage the more distant bank of rollers, a bracket connecting said arms to the other bank of rollers, a bell-crank connected with said arms, a lever for imparting motion to said bell-crank, whereby at one motion the hooks pull the more distant bank of compressionrollers toward the other, and said arms by said bracket push the secondmentioned bank of rollers toward the more distant, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless carrier, a former, two banks of compression-rollers surrounding same, a pair of vertical arms, a hook or hooks borne thereby to engage the more distant bank of rollers, a bracket connecting said arms to the other bank of rollers, a bell-crank connected with said arms, a lever for imparting motion to said bell-crank, whereby at one motion the hooks pull the more distant bank of compression-rollers toward the other, and said arms by said bracket push the second-mentioned bank of rollers toward the more distant, and a dog and ratchet to retain same in any desired position, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless carrier,a former, pairs of plates adjacent to same, a plurality of compression-rollers borne by said plates, and means for advancing said plates to cause said rollers to exert pressure on the material when it is on the former, substantially as described.

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame, a former supported thereabove, an endless carrier encircling same, a feed-roll adjacent thereto, oppositely-closing compression means, arms supporting one of said means, a pair of cams, means connecting said arms and said cams, means connecting said cams and said feed-roll, whereby, when one of said means for compression is opened, said feed-roll is allowed also to drop out of contact with the former, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a former drum, banks of compression-rollers swingingly and adjust-ab] y mounted to exert pressure on said drum, and means to enable simultaneous adjustment of the degree of pressure exerted by the banks.

6. In combination with the former-drum, banks of compression rollers surrounding said drum, and means whereby said banks may be advanced simultaneously to exert uniform pressure on said drum.

7. In combination with a former-drum, two sets of compression-rollers surrounding said drum, means for pivotally supporting each set, and means for advancing said sets simultaneously to exert pressure on said drum.

8. In combination with the former-drum, two sets of compression-rollers surrounding said drum, means for movably supporting each set, and means carried by the supporting means of one set and engaging the other set to enable said sets to be actuated in unison to exert pressure on said drum.

9. In combination with the former-drum, two sets of compression-rollers surrounding said drum, means movably supporting each set, a connection between said means, and means carried by one of said supports for operating said connection.

10. In combination with the former-drum, a pair of frames, banks of com pression-rollers carried by said frames, a pivoted arm supporting each frame, means carried by one arm and engaging the frame of the other arm for actuating the same, and means for operating said means to advance said banks in unison toward said drum.

11. In combination with a former-drum, a pair of oppositely-disposed banks of compression-rollers surrounding said drum, and means for operating said banks in unison toward said drum.

12. In combination with a former-drum, a pair of oppositely-disposed banks of compression-rollers arranged about said drum, a feed-roll arranged between said banks, means for operating said banks in unison toward and away from said drum, and means whereby when one of said banks is withdrawn from said drum said feed-roll is allowed to drop out of contact with the drum in unison therewith.

13. In combination with a former-drum, a pair of banks of compression-rollers disposed to surround said drum and exert pressure thereon, means for advancing said banks in unison toward said drum, and operable to permit said banks to be independently swung away from said drum.

14. In combination with a formerdrum,two sets of compression-rollers, means for swingingly mounting each set, operating means carried by one set and engaging the other set, and means for actuating said operating means whereby said sets are advanced in unison toward said drum.

15. Incombinationwithaformer-drum,two sets of compression-rollers, means for movably supporting said sets, means carried by one of the supporting means and engaging the other supporting means to actuate the latter, and means carried by the first-named supporting means for operating said actuating means and itself.

16. In combination with the former-drum, two sets of compression-rollers and a feedrollsurrounding said drum, for exerting pressure thereon, and means operated by one of the sets whereby when said set is withdrawn from said drum said roll will be permitted to drop out of contact with said drum.

17. In combination with a former-drum, a pair of banks of compression-rollers and a feed-roll surrounding said drum, means for advancing the banks toward said drum in unison, means for permitting said banks to be independently retracted from said drum, and means operated during the retraction of one 

